It's All Over Except the Calories...

...Sort of. This is the thought that popped into my mind this morning when I thought of my birthday. I had a yummy dinner last night and this morning the celebration of the day was over, except for the calories that remain with me. My second thought was the "sort of."  The calories do remain, but the good wishes and good feelings are still with me, too. I am going to settle down later today and slowly read and cherish the good wishes, both electronic and paper, and give thanks for the friends and family who reached out to me.

A second thought, as I return to my New York life, was that all that was left of vacation was the calories, but that is a "sort of," too. There are photos, memories and new friends and I cherish those as well. I'm still in a Dublin state of mind this afternoon and I'm going to share another few Dublin photos today.

I would be remiss not to share a photo of the Guinness Stout complex, probably the greatest attraction to visitors of Dublin besides the Book of Kells. In the interest of truth in journalism, I confess that I didn't go on the tour, but rather took this picture from the bus. I'm not a drinker of beer, stout or ale and I thought the experience would be wasted on me, but I know I am in a distinct and small minority.

The Guinness Storehouse, a very popular stop for visitors to Dublin

The gardens at the Beatty Library at Dublin Castle. The Library has an extraordinary manuscript collection. 

Next to the Beatty Library I found a wonderful exhibit by stained glass genius, Dale Chihuly, illustrating James Joyce's "Ulysses." I am a big fan of Chihuly's work and was delighted to find this exhibit. I've never read "Ulysses," but this exhibit may just be the push I need. 

As always thank for visiting and thanks, too, for the comments and good wishes for my birthday. Take good care and please come and visit often. 

Today I'm Sixty-Four

Some people may see this title as a shameless ploy for comments -- I might be one of them -- or just an homage to one of my favorite songs by the Beatles, "When I'm Sixty-Four." The song has been in my mind for a blog post title for months, and today, my friends, I am 64. I get to share my birthday with #RingoStarr and I am happy to give Ringo, who happily is still going strong, a birthday shout-out. Happy birthday, Ringo, and here's to many more years that we will share our birth day. Happy and healthy!

I'm home from my travels, and happy to report that my luggage decided to come home, too. I'm slowly unpacking and contemplating the mountain of laundry that is waiting for me. Yes, even on birthdays, there is laundry, if I want to have something to wear when I'm sixty-four. There was also grocery shopping first thing this morning and later this afternoon there will be a few errands, first of which will be taking my ailing iPad to the Apple Store. My body is still on Dublin time and though I woke up at my usual time, just before eight o'clock. But it was eight a.m. in Dublin and, unfortunately, three a.m. here. I'm hoping to make it awake to nine tonight and get myself back on a New York schedule.

I've been an inconstant blogger and it feels good to be back at the computer blogging away. I'm going to share pictures of the trip in no special order. My mind is also back in Dublin and that's where I'm going to start today. I had long wanted to visit Dublin -- maybe forty years -- and see the Book of Kells, and it more than lived up to my expectations. What I didn't expect was the beauty of the Trinity College Library, where the manuscript is housed. I felt as though I'd walked into a scene in Harry Potter, but it wasn't a film.

Trinity College Library, Dublin, founded by Queen Elizabeth I

This is the Ha'penny Bridge, one of the bridges that connects the North and South areas of Dublin, divided by the River Liffey. I was so lucky to be there at twilight. The toll for the bridge was once a ha'penny.

Sunset at Christ Church Cathedral

I had a wonderful long weekend in Dublin. Besides my visit to Trinity College, I visited the Dublin Castle, the Beatty Library and its extraordinary manuscript collection and the National Gallery of Ireland. But I also just enjoyed the city, wandering down medieval and Georgian streets and snapping lots of pictures. It was everything I'd hoped for and I'm already thinking about a return trip to see more of Ireland. 

The laundry calls. Thanks so much, blogger buddies, for sharing my trip, and as always for your friendship. I am a very lucky sixty-four year old and I don't feel a day over sixty-three. 

In Dublin's Fair City

The travel whirl is almost over. I'm beginning to pack for my flight home tomorrow. Dublin has been great, with so much to see. One of my travel dreams has been to see Trinity College and the medieval manuscript, The Book of Kells.  I was there first thing this morning and the experience lived up to my expectations.

Back to familiar places and friends, grocery shopping and bed making and regular blogging. I love to travel, but it's good to come home. Next stop, New York City.

This Is What Passes for Spring in the City Random 5 Friday

I know yesterday was Happiness Day, but I'm happy today, too. It was sunny, warmer and it's time for Random 5 Friday. That's an unbeatable combo for me.

1) Pussy willows have always meant spring to me, even when they're stuck in a bucket in one of the most crowded urban settings on the planet. This isn't the prettiest picture I've ever taken, but this was my first pussy willow sighting this year and it's spring to me.

Yes, that's a shadow selfie in the bottom right corner. 

2) I started to do some research on sights to see in Dublin this summer. I'll be there for not quite three days and I compiled a list today that could fill a week easily. I want to leave some time to enjoy a cup of tea, take lots of pictures and do some walking. If anyone has been to Dublin I'd appreciate your thoughts. 

3) I don't think I say this often enough, but I love the comments I get. I'm still laughing over the thought of being rescued by a "hunky fireman" during my chair almost-disaster. My thought at the time was that I was going to be humiliated by a fire truck racing to yoga. But on reconsideration, if they promise to send cute firemen -- aren't they all! -- I'm willing risk intervention by the FDNY.    

4) While we're on the topic of blogging, I'm wondering what happened to my page views this month. I was getting about 200 every day and in the last two weeks the number has dropped to closer to 120. I did a little research and all of the page views from the Ukraine are gone and most of the ones from Russia are gone, too. I never could have predicted that the Ukraine crisis would have an effect on my blog. Has anyone else noticed this trend?

5) I'm looking for a favorite and easy chicken slow cooker recipe. I'm in a cooking slump and need to get out my slow cooker and make something easy and yummy for the tomorrow's dinner and the freezer. I know there are creative cooks in Buttercupland and I welcome your suggestions. 

These five just flew by and I've really enjoyed chatting. As always, thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!